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The Unlikely Trump Fans Of Nigeria by Noneroone(m): 8:10pm On Mar 31, 2017
On the surface, Donald Trump's earnest support from a group of secessionists in Southeastern Nigeria might seem odd, especially when one of the biggest charges being hurled at his administration is anti-Black racism. However, the Biafran support of Donald Trump is nuanced. They don't agree with him on everything- but they don't feel they have to.
Biafra was a short-lived secessionist state in Southeastern Nigeria that lasted from 30 May 1967 to 15 January 1970. A military coup in January 1966 saw the assassinations of Northern Nigerian leaders like Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Northern Premier Ahmadu Bello. Their deaths sparked the killing of thousands of Igbos and members of other ethnic groups from Southern Nigeria in anti-Igbo pogroms across the north of the country. Millions of southerners fled the North, abandoning their homes, businesses and employment. The pogroms led to secession and the Nigerian Civil War, which only ended when Biafra conceded defeat and rejoined the country.
Modern Biafran secessionists believe that the conditions that led to the Nigerian Civil War are still present today. However, unlike the original movement, the secessionists, led by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), feel the people of Southeastern Nigeria are economically and socially marginalized by the state.

Why Donald Trump?
A pro Donald Trump rally held by Biafran activists in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, in January 2017, left over 20 people dead at the hands of the police. A lot of my American friends couldn't understand why any Nigerians would come out in support of Trump when his administration has been charged with xenophobic immigration policies and the appointment of staff who have ties to white supremacist groups.
But from dialogues I have had with many Biafra supporters,the reason for Trump's overwhelming support is actually multifaceted. They don't support his immigration policies, xenophobia or his anti-Black racism, but they are willing to overlook them based on his stance on radical Islam, Brexit, and his statements on the self-determination of nations.
After all, the argument Biafran activists have been putting forward is that if European countries can have referendums for independence, then why can't Nigeria?
On 23 June 2016, the United Kingdom held a referendum that saw it break away from the European Union. This has become known as Brexit. The next day, on 24 June, Trump tweeted:

"Self-determination is the sacred right of all free people's [sic], and the people of the UK have exercised that right for all the world to see."
Self-determination is the sacred right of all free people's, and the people of the UK have exercised that right for all the world to see. - Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 24, 2016
This statement became a rallying cry for the secessionists who took it as a sign that Trump would support their cause. After all, the argument Biafran activists have been putting forward is that if European countries can have referendums for independence, then why can't Nigeria?
The other reason for Biafran activists' support of Trump is his tough stance on radical Islam. The mostly Christian Igbos have long cited cultural incompatibilities with the largely Muslim ethnic groups in Northern Nigeria, and growing Islamic fundamentalism in the North has been a major point of contention for Biafran activists. Many states in the North have implemented strict Sharia laws, which many Christians have seen as a violation of the constitution of what should be a secular country. For Biafrans, Trump is one of the few leaders bold enough to address the issue head on.
Islamic fundamentalism in Northern Nigeria has been a major point of contention for Biafran activists.

What do Biafrans really want?
In November 2016, Amnesty International released a report stating that the Nigerian military has been carrying out a campaign of extrajudicial executions that has resulted in the murder of at least 150 peaceful pro-Biafra protestors. In addition to what they deem as the unlawful imprisonment of IPOB's leader, Nnamdi Kanu, the findings have bolstered the secessionist group's claims of persecution and systemic oppression at the hands of the Nigerian government.
While Biafran support for Donald Trump most likely will not amount to much outside of Nigeria, especially if Trump never acknowledges it, the activists feel that supporting him will help their voices be heard on an international scale.
Re: The Unlikely Trump Fans Of Nigeria by kingzizzy: 11:58pm On Mar 31, 2017
Im a proud IPOB supporter for the fact that I think that my Igbo nation have the inalinable right to decide if they want to be part of the Nigerian nation or not. It is quite shocking for me that Nigerians think Lord Lugards Nigeria is for life. Igbos have have every right to seek existence along with the minorities who are "willing".

When it comes to Donald Trump, I dont like the man. However, Im not American. How he Governs America is his business. But as the leader of the free world, the fact that he supports self determination makes me connect with him. Donald Trump will probably never aknowledge the Biafran movement but that is not the point. The point is that the most powerful man in the world will not stand against the emergence of a Biafran nation is worth celebrating no matter how insignificant it may be.
Re: The Unlikely Trump Fans Of Nigeria by SalamRushdie: 12:10am On Apr 01, 2017
Only a Muslim, Homosexuals, anarchist, drug dealer, Illegal Immigrant, person with low IQ, the easily brain washed and Satanist will hate Trump ..What has Trump ever said that is wrong
Re: The Unlikely Trump Fans Of Nigeria by Nobody: 12:20am On Apr 01, 2017
kingzizzy:
Im a proud IPOB supporter for the fact that I think that my Igbo nation have the inalinable right to decide if they want to be part of the Nigerian nation or not. It is quite shocking for me that Nigerians think Lord Lugards Nigeria is for life. Igbos have have every right to seek existence along with the minorities who are "willing".

When it comes to Donald Trump, I dont like the man. However, Im not American. How he Governs America is his business. But as the leader of the free world, the fact that he supports self determination makes me connect with him. Donald Trump will probably never aknowledge the Biafran movement but that is not the point. The point is that the most powerful man in the world will not stand against the emergence of a Biafran nation is worth celebrating no matter how insignificant it may be.
In other words you are just another silly IPOB clown
Re: The Unlikely Trump Fans Of Nigeria by kingzizzy: 12:35am On Apr 01, 2017
kropotkin2:
In other words you are just another silly IPOB clown

You may think that but freedom is a long hard road with little or no friends to help. But I wouldnt expect someone like you, who claimed a country created by a white man called Lugard, as your,own, to understand. You cant do what Lugard did, thats why you will be against those like Ojukwu, IPOB, MASSOB who are trying to do what he did.

Im sure if Lugard had not come to Africa, people like you would have gone to Europe to find him so he can give your country

Who knows, maybe you would have begged him to choose a better name for you than a common River.

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